Power & Control

They say that friends are the family you choose. You don’t have to spend any ounce of your time with them, but you want to: You enjoy each other’s company; you support each other through the triumphs and the losses; you really get each other. Or at least that’s what…

Gaslighting is a form of manipulation and emotional abuse whereby the perpetrator leads one to question their reality, their logic, their intuition—everything they know to be true. This manipulative behavior is observed among friends, family, colleagues… and, of course, romantic couples. So, what does gaslighting look like in a relationship?…

A Comprehensive Look at Gaslighting For a complete and extensive understanding of gaslighting—a dangerous and frightening form of manipulation—pull up a seat and get ready for a lesson from Licensed Clinical Social Worker Sheri Heller. She explains exactly what gaslighting is and how these manipulators pull it off: “Gaslighting is…

Our favorite television shows just aren’t complete without a beloved couple: there was Corey and Topanga from Boy Meets World; Chandler and Monica from Friends; and, of course, we can’t go without mentioning Jim and Pam from The Office. We often place these couples on a pedestal. We look up…

I know—what the heck is “gaslighting”? It may sound funny but it’s actually a really scary form of manipulation, which got its name from a popular 1940’s film titled Gas Light. In this movie, a husband methodically manipulates his wife into thinking she’s crazy, hence referring to this form of…

Think back to when you were a trouble-making, devious kid—maybe you stole a cookie from the cookie jar, or stayed up past your bedtime, or watched a movie deemed inappropriate and off limits. Chances are, you did everything you could to avoid getting caught and being punished: which means that…

I have one friend who I’ve really maintained a level of closeness with since the very ripe age of 10. We got through the awkward high school years together and even managed to pay one another monthly visits during college. Now we’re figuring out how to maneuver through real adult…

A little boy was brought into this world by his mother many years ago—and that’s about the extent of their relationship. She left when he was too young to remember even the color of her eyes, or the sound of her voice, or what it felt like to be cradled…

When does it become emotional blackmail? It’s not entirely uncommon to acquiesce to your partner’s requests. After all, you can compromise as well as the next person. But when does healthy compromise turn into something else–something more sinister and harmful? 6 Warning Signs of Emotional Blackmail If you often find…

Tips on Fighting Emotional Blackmail Emotional blackmail is an issue far more commonplace than people realize. It is defined as someone preying upon the emotions and sensibilities of another for personal gain, rather than external data. This form of extortion usually occurs within close relationships (fathers and sons, mothers and…